BASKING RIDGE, NJ � U.S. Senators Joseph Lieberman (ID-Conn.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) today introduced The First Responders Protection Act of 2010 t

BASKING RIDGE, NJ � U.S. Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, announced he will introduce the Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act to ensure that public safety has access to the airwaves when tragedy strikes and to bring additional spectrum to wireless broadband use.

Steve Zipperstein, Verizon Wireless vice president and general counsel, issued the following statement:

�Chairman Rockefeller�s approach brings to life President Obama�s goal of harnessing 500 MHz of spectrum for wireless broadband innovation through open and non-discriminatory auctions, while carving out a small portion � just two percent of the total � to meet public safety�s needs.

�We applaud Chairman Rockefeller�s call for 10 MHz of spectrum in the D-Block on which to build a national, interoperable wireless broadband network dedicated to ensuring our nation�s safety. The American people deserve to know our first responders have the resources, including wireless spectrum, they need to protect us.

�We also support the Chairman�s proposal for open auctions of additional spectrum that will maximize the financial benefit to American taxpayers while creating new opportunities for technological innovation.�